Theater aisle standard



Nov. 1, 1938. H. J. McKiNNEY ,3 Q

THEATER AISLE STANDARD Filed Jan. 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hm V/y/ 23 If fi :2

12 H J I" 8/ 1e Nov. 1, 1938. H. J. MCKINNEY THEATER'AISLE STANDARD 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1937 Nov, 1, 1938. H J, MK|NNEY 2,135,311

THEATER AI SLE S TANDARD Filed Jan. 21, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 1, 1938 UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICEIL" THEATER AISLE STANDARD Henry J. McKinney, 'Brookline, Mass.

Application January 21, 1937, Serial No. 121,410 3 Claims. (01. 240-4),

At the end of each row of-seats in a theater or similar building a special standard is used to give support to the seat next adjacent to the aisle. This element is commonly known as an aisle standard. In prior constructions provision has been made at times for illuminating a sumcient portion of the floor immediately adjacent to each standard to enable a person better to see the way to his seat. The present invention is more especially concerned with standards of this general type.

Considerations of appearance, design and ornamentation are very important in structures of this character, and much attention is given to them. It is therefore an object of this invention to devise an aisle standard in which the factor of illumination shall be made to contribute to the attractiveness and design of the standard. In addition, the invention aims to devise a construction of this character which will lend itself to great variation in design, while still retaining the manufacturing expense within entirely reasonable limits, and in which the illumination of the floor at the lateral entrances to the aisle will be performed more satisfactorily.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, I

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an end seat equipped with aisle standards embodying features of this invention;

Fig."2 is ahorizontal, sectional view approximately on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Figs. 3 and 4 are front and vertical'sectional views, respectively, of the aisle standard shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper portion of thestand- 4o ard, however, being very slightly modified in appearance;

Figs. 5 and 6 are horizontal, sectional views of modifications; and

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, respectively, showing a further modification.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the aisle standard is indicated in general at 2. It comprises a casing designed to rest on the floor 50 and equipped with the usual elements, such as the lugs 3-3, to receive parts which Support the hinge members. In the aisle side of the standard a recess 4 is formed of considerable depth which forms a housing for an electric lamp 5. Preferably this lamp is of a tubular form, such as that known commercially as the Lumilite, although any other suitable form of lamp may be substituted for it. The particular lamp shown has terminals at its opposite ends designed to be? supported in upper and lower sockets or fixtures 6 and 1, respectively. As shown in Fig. 2, the lower fixture is screwed to a lug 8 cast integral with the frame, and the upper fixture may be similarly mounted. The nature of this lamp supporting means necessarily will be varied to suit the requirements of the particular style of lamp used. However, because the lamp housingis'ver tically elongated and preferably occupies acon-y siderable portion of the height of the-standard, it is desirable to use a lamp of a tubular type. A'further advantage of this type of lampis that it gives a soft subdued lightwell suited to this;

particular use.

The back of the recess 4 isclos'edby the we b portion ll) of the standard, this part forming a box-like structure which is open at the aisle side. Partially closing this side of the recess is a grill l2, usually made of metal, this closure being se-- cured removably in place in any convenient man ner. upper edge of the grill is providedwith lugs,;one

of which is shown in Fig. 4 at l3, designed to enter recesses in the casting and the lower edge is secured in place-by screws or bolts [4-14, Fig. 1. As indicated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, that part of the casting immediately surrounding the recess is grooved to receive the edge of the grill. Im-' mediately behind the grill is a translucent plate I 5 of any suitable material such asglass or, more preferably, some of the flexible translucent sheet materials now available, cellulose acetate being an important example.

It will readily be appreciated that n ais e standard constructed in the manner just" de scribed lends itself conveniently; to a wide variety of; ornamentation involving either featuresfof configuration or color schemes, or both. Since the lamp housing is open at the aisle side for the passage of light into the aisle, the grill 12 In the particular arrangement shown the this member may be made of'relatively simple lines suited to take a'wlde variety in design, or, if desired, it may be of more ornamental form so that it contributes to the design. By suitable masking or coating of the translucent plate, as

much or as little of it, as desired, may be made to transmit light, and to subdue or modify the characteristics of the rays.

, be used without the translucent plate if desired.

The seat illustrated in Fig. 1 is shown as equipped with two end standards merely for the directed to the region under the seat, these openings also affording ventilation for theilamp cham b rg 1 In. some cases Yja construction is shown in Fig.5, the removable back being indicated at |8 One advantage of this construction is that the. fixtures which sup-;

port, the lamp-may be mounted directlyon the removable back -and these parts maybe assembled as a-unit prior to securing the backto thei. main body-of the aisle standard. -'If the V lamp is of a type in which the terminals. are at g In j cured in position by bolts or screws 2 l1'2| one. end only thenonly'ithe upper section of the back may bemade removable, if desired, and this part may carry the lamp supporting devices,

,In'some constructions; also, itis preferable to make the entire lamp housing and the parts .im-,

mediately associatedwith it-in a unit by itself,

and to secure this unit removably to the standard. A constructioniof this nature isillustrated :in Fig.- 6, the lamp casing being shown. at 20- positioned in an apertureor recessiormed in the casting 2a for the standard andremovably se- This casing may also'carry the closures for the front side thereof;

{ In all of these-formsof the inventionthe stand ard is provided with'lugs 22.22 at itsupper end to receive the wood arm rest 23., r

. A'iurther variation of the'invention shown -'in Figs. 7,18, and 9. Here thestandardlcasting .25 is provided; with a relativelyldeep. vertically,

" elongated recess 26 and either all, or a portion, of

' elements 3| somewhat resembling louvers which may either be cast integral withthe part 25 'or vremovably assembled-therewith as desired. -'I'he 'the back 21 is removably secured in; place by screws orbolts. Preferably this back is equipped with-one or more brackets 2 8', as may be required, to support the lamp 3Q. The--rece'ss-26 in this standard also is openatth e aisle side,.but this opening is partially closed by a'series of inclined inclined portion of each louver preferably is substantially overlapped 'by the marginal flange or skirt' at the outer and lower edge of the corra Also, the grill may' In other words, the

I V asp'raataia make the 1 back of the lamp;housingremovable, and such sponding member nextabove it, so that direct horizontal rays of light cannot be transmitted laterally from the lamp into the aisle, but down- Wardly directed diagonal rays will be permitted to pass between the-louvers and thus to illumi nate the portion of the floor immediately adjacent, to the standard; In this constructionthe marginal edges of the members 3| produce agrill-like efiect,.and these parts, as well as the body portions of the members. 3|, may begiven ornamental'shapes and attractively decorated.

Thus the ornamental effects desired may be produced. while at the same time afior'ding the necessary control of light.

If desired, the grill l2, Fig. 1, maybe replaced 1 by a louver assembly like that'shown in Figs.-

7, Band 9, such an assembly being slipped into place in thesamemanner as the grill. and a translucent plate may be used with the louvers or not. I

While I have herein shown and described typical embodiments of my'invention, it will be un;-.

derstood that the invention may be embodied inother forms without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. I V V H 7 Having thus" described my invention, what I desire to claim-as 'new is: i

1. An aislestandard for theater seatsv provided with alamphousing in the side thereof toward the aisle, said housingopening at the aisle side,

a light transmitting closure for the-.open-jside of said housing comprising and including a grill extending substantially the full. length of, the standard, an electric lamp mounted in said'hous-- ing in a position'to throw its rays outward through the grill and intothe aisle, and a translucent'member covering the open portions ofthe. rill;

2. Anaislestandard for theater seats'provided with a lamp housing in the side therecf toward.

4-0 the aisle-said housing openingat the aisle side,

a light transmitting closure for the open side of i said housing comprising and includingja grill extending substantially the' full length of, the

standard, an elongated electric lamp mounted insaid housing in position to throw .its rays outward. through the grill and into the aisle, and a translucent member coveringv the open Lportions oi'the grill. q a 3. An'aisle standard for, theater seats provided;

with alamp housing in the sidethereof toward the aisle, said housing extending the greater part of the height ofthe'flstandard and being open,

at the aisle side thereof, a tubular, electric lamp 1 mounted in said housing; a light transmitting closure for the openside'iof said housingcoma. prising and; including a partially translucent the standard, upper: andlower'fixtures suppor ing said lamp, and'a supporting memberfor said fixtures and the lamp removably mounted in said recess, whereby saidfixtures, lamp and member j are removable and replaceable as a unit.

- HENRY J. MCKINNEYi grill extending substantially the full length of I 

